Remote Sensing: a Visionary Tool in Malaria Epidemiology

Malaria is still a major public health problem. In India nearly 2-3 million cases occur every year with about 1000 deaths. Control of malaria requires case detection and treatment of affected individuals, and for curtailment of malaria transmission, control of mosquito vectors is undertaken. Vector control requires knowledge of the ecology of breeding and resting habitats and behaviour of various species of mosquitoes. The life of mosquitoes is influenced by variations in climatic conditions, and hence there is diversity in the distribution and habitats of different vector species. Periodical surveys are essential for arriving at any conclusion for developing vector control strategy. Routine entomological surveys over vast geographic areas are impractical, time consuming and expensive and therefore are confined to limited areas.